Chamberlin Project Is Taking Shape

One of the most famous historic properties in Hampton Roads is still on track to become the most coveted retirement community when the restoration of The Chamberlin in Hampton is completed in June.

When the $55-million renovation is done, the former hotel will be a blend of the historic architectural features that made it beloved and updates that will make it modern and livable. The Drucker and Falk-managed project on Fort Monroe will have 133 high-end apartments for seniors 62 and up.

FOR THE RECORD - Published correction ran Wednesday, January 30, 2008.In Sunday's Business section, a story on the Chamberlin hotel at Fort Monroe omitted that there was a second Hygeia Hotel on the property where the Chamberlin stands. The second Hygeia was demolished 10 years after the first Chamberlin was built in 1893.

While there is a considerable amount of historic detail that will remain intact, the rooms are distinctly modern and upscale. Much of the building's primary and exterior features were retained, but interior walls were knocked down for rooms that are outfitted with new appliances and lighting fixtures, granite countertops and marble thresholds.

The hotel is owned by a group of investors, and Drucker & Falk worked closely with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources on the restoration to qualify for historic tax credits. The large iconic lobby, including the original Grand Piano, will be one of the features that will closely resemble the past.

"The lobby itself is one area they were very clear that it had to be returned, near as people could tell, to its prime," said Bob Lippard, director of senior living for Drucker & Falk.

The company is now taking applications for the units, and Hampton Roads residents will get first preference for the type of unit they want. About 100 people who live in the region have indicated an interest, and Lippard expects that 15-20 percent of the future renters will come from outside the region when it is full.

Getting into the prime property surrounded by water, loaded with amenities and access to medical professionals from Sentara will not come cheap. The cost ranges from $2,850 a month for one bedroom to anywhere from $3,825 to $6,000 for a two-bedroom. The rent includes a wide array of services.

"In a retirement community, virtually all expenses someone will have living at home are covered," said Lippard.

Residents will get one meal a day, from their choice of an upscale waterfront restaurant or a casual bistro. The Chesapeake Room dining area has a large dance floor that was restored. They can then grab a night cap at the Officer's Club, which will have a bar, billiards and big-screen television.

Rent includes membership to a health club, where there will be exercise classes and wellness programs run by Sentara. The club will be called The Hygeia, which was the name of the hotel that preceded the Chamberlin in the same spot. The first Hygeia opened in 1820 and was later torn down. A second Hygeia was built, but it was demolished 10 years after the first Chamberlin was built in 1893.

The second incarnation of the Chamberlin that is being restored today was built in 1928 and closed as a hotel in 2003, when the company that owned it at the time went bankrupt. The Florida-based company had trouble keeping it open as a hotel after 9-11 created restrictions for getting on base.

Another one of the complicated points of restoration that will benefit the residents is the heated, indoor swimming pool. The bottom of the original pool and surrounding deck had small, elaborate tiles that aren't made anymore. The restoration will try to duplicate the effort, but the pool will be made to a universal depth that suits seniors.

"They said make it as close as you can," Lippard said. "That work is just getting ready to be done."

Every two weeks, the hospitality staff will tidy rooms and clean the linens. Most of the rooms from the fourth floor up have views of the water in all directions. Besides running on-site health programs, Sentara will have a growing presence for home health and physical therapy services.

A plan to build a new adjoining assisted living facility was scrapped. Instead, Chamberlin residents will get first priority to move to Senatara centers when they need the more-intensive medical care. Chamberlin renters will also have the flexibility that comes with an annual lease, rather than a long-term commitment.

When the apartments open in June, it will conclude 22 months of construction that employed 100 workers a day at its height. Besides the $39 million spent directly on building, there was a substantial outlay for designers, lawyers, asbestos and lead paint remediation and specialized contractors.

"There were so many dimensions of the hotel that you just don't see every day," Lippard said.

The new executive director of The Chamberlin, Sue Moniak, is confident there will be plenty of interest and the facility will set a new standards for retirement living.

"I don't know another building that can even compare to the Chamberlin," Moniak said.

ONLINE EXTRA: To watch a video about The Chamberlin, got to dailypress.com/Chamberlin.